Emmitt Smith...Perspective

[TwoDeep3]

An except:

http://www.knowyourdallascowboys.com/2007/11/10/a-look-back-cowboys-vs-giants-1993/

Then let Smith wear the title belt for the next two weeks, as long as it doesn’t place any undue strain on his shoulder. Smith sustained a first-degree separation (the least serious) of his right shoulder just before halftime. That didn’t keep him from his busiest day as a professional. Smith ran 32 times for 168 yards, earning his third consecutive league rushing title in the process, and caught 10 balls for another 61 yards. Of his 229 total yards, Smith gained 78 after the injury.

“I came in with the intention of doing whatever it took to win,” said Smith. “At halftime, the injury was pretty rough. I had to make a decision. I wanted to keep playing.”

_____________________________

I guess this is a silly game really. A pointy ball and twenty-two men trying to beat on each other to get to the other end of the field.

But there are men and then there are MEN.

Our hopes rode on his separated shoulder that day. And while my all time favorite Cowboy is Irvin.

I will never forget that sense of pride I had in the team and Emmitt Smith when he literally single-handedly beat the Giants to win the NFC East.

There are so many wonderful memories this team has given me. But only a few are special.

Staubach to Pearson - The Hail Mary

Romo toughing out his shoulder to come back and beat the 9ers

The 92 Candlestick NFC Championship game

But nothing replaces that one afternoon in the Meadowlands when Emmitt won the east with nothing but a tank full of guts and determination.

 

[mldardy]

I can understand why Brown and Sayers are ranked ahead of Smith although I don't feel particularly strong about them. But people should go back and watch the early Emmitt run. Nobody has ever had his combination of balance, vision, strength, and durability. Nobody has ever had his balance.

Brown sure I'll give you that he is ahead but Sayers no way. I don't care how dazzling he was his career was not long enough. That counts for a lot. One of Emmitt's many great qualities was his longevity/ability to stay healthy and on the field. I almost hesitate to put Sayers in the top 10 simply because he didn't play long enough. He definitely shouldn't be ahead of Brown, Payton, Emmitt, Sanders, Dickerson, Dorsett, Faulk, Simpson.

 

[Big D]

The best ever! :starspin

 

[Hostile]

[youtube]5vx982FZLa0[/youtube]

 

[TellerMorrow34]

That's what's always stuck out to me. Believe it was in 15 post season games. He basically played an additional season of post season games.

I've always believed Jerry Rice was the best non QB player in history. Not surprised at all when he was #1 in that recent top 100 all-time players list that ESPN did. I think it was ESPN. Either way, I was surprised how many disagreed with his selection.

Point I'm making here is that I've always viewed Emmitt in a similar light. You take his regular season accomplishments plus the post season and then factor in his team's success.........he's the probably the most accomplished football player in history.

Excellent post and I agree 100%.


I've always said that Jerry Rice was flat out the best football player I've ever seen play. That's any player, any position, to me he was the hands down best ever.

I wasn't shocked at all he was rated #1.


Emmitt is definately in that catagory.

And still Goose ranks him 6th all time behind Sanders, Brown, Sayers, Simpson, and Payton.

It boggles the mind how someone can look at Smith's career and see 6th.

It's Goose and therefor it simply shouldn't blow your mind or anything. Goose is an idiot.

 

[SportsGuru80]

This is why he's my favorite Dallas Cowboy of all time...

 

[jobberone]

Brown sure I'll give you that he is ahead but Sayers no way. I don't care how dazzling he was his career was not long enough. That counts for a lot. One of Emmitt's many great qualities was his longevity/ability to stay healthy and on the field. I almost hesitate to put Sayers in the top 10 simply because he didn't play long enough. He definitely shouldn't be ahead of Brown, Payton, Emmitt, Sanders, Dickerson, Dorsett, Faulk, Simpson.

Well it's all subjective so everyone's opinion is equal but I'd wonder if you ever saw him play. It's just very recently I began to think Sayers was the greatest ever.

 

[THUMPER]

In his career at Escambia High School Emmitt Smith rushed for 8804 yards and 106 TDs. I could not find anything on his HS receiving stats.

In his career at the University of Florida he rushed for 3928 yards, 36 TDs, and had 461 yards receiving and another TD.

In his NFL career he rushed for 18,355 yards, 164 TDs, and had 3224 receiving yards, 11 more TDs and 1 passing TD.

In his post season career he added 1586 yards, 19 TDs, 342 receiving yards, and 2 TDs.


This breaks down to 32,673 rushing yards, 4027 receiving yards that we know of, for a grand total of 36,700 yards from scrimmage.

If you multiply that number time 3 you come up with 110,100 feet. Divide that by 5280 and it comes out to just over 20.85 miles from scrimmage.

On top of this he scored 339 TDs that we know of and threw for another one for 340 in his football career.

Just thought it might lend a little perspective to how amazing a player we had.

AWESOME post Hos!

I love how people continue to say that Emmitt was only great because of his HoF O-Line. Really? Can you name any of those O-Linemen that are in the HoF? Larry Allen is likely the only one that will be inducted.

Nate Newton(6-PBs, 2-1st AP) has a VERY slim chance of getting in but I don't think it will ever happen. So who are these other HoFers he ran behind?

Erik Williams(4-PBs, 2-1st AP)? He was the best OT in football for a few years but didn't last long enough at that level to be considered.

Mark Tuinei(2-PBs)? Nope. Mark Stepnoski went to 3 PBs with us and 2 with the Oilers but I don't think he will merit any consideration for the HoF.

Kevin Gogan went to 3 PBs with other teams, not gonna happen. John Gesek? Nope. Derek Kennard? Nope.

Ray Donaldson was a 6-time Pro-Bowler, including twice with us, so he might have an outside shot at induction someday but he was never named 1st-team All-Pro so I doubt it will happen.

The TRUTH is that while our O-Line played well for us during Emmitt's time in Dallas only Larry Allen is going to be in the HoF.


If any RB benefited from a bunch of HoF OLs it was Jim Brown who had 3 of his blockers inducted into the HoF.

LT Lou Groza (he was not just a kicker but a great LT)
RT Mike McCormack
RG Gene Hickerson

LT Dick Schafrath(6-PBs, 4-1st AP) and LG Jim Ray Smith(5-PBs, 3-1st AP) have been nominated for induction but have never been finalists that I know of.

The bottom line is that of the RBs in the top-10 Jim Brown ran behind the best O-Line yet you NEVER hear that brought up as a knock on him like it is for Emmitt.

 

[mldardy]

Well it's all subjective so everyone's opinion is equal but I'd wonder if you ever saw him play. It's just very recently I began to think Sayers was the greatest ever.

I never saw him play but that doesn't matter because his career didn't last long enough. That's a tough break but credit should be given to running backs who last a lot longer than Sayers and ran just as good/better than he did.